Findlay man visiting N.Y. dies of Nile virus

FINDLAY - A Findlay man visiting family in New York has died from West Nile virus.

Roger C. Brown, 62, a retired firefighter, traveled to New York Sept. 27 and was taken to a hospital there the same day with flu-like symptoms. He refused admittance at the time, the Onondaga County Health Department in New York said. Mr. Brown returned to the hospital Oct. 2 with more severe symptoms and died Oct. 12.

Health officials in New York think Mr. Brown was infected before going to New York because the virus has a one to two-week incubation period.

Mr. Brown is the second person from northwest Ohio to die from West Nile virus. An 81-year-old Sandusky area man died in August. A 50-year-old man from Lenawee County, Mich., died earlier this month from a suspected case of the virus that was transmitted to him through a blood transfusion.

There have been 343 suspected or confirmed cases of West Nile virus in Ohio and 14 deaths. In Michigan, there have been 433 suspected or confirmed cases and 28 deaths. Nationwide, there have been 2,977 suspected or confirmed cases and 162 deaths.

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